Phoenix Ikner, the suspect in a mass shooting on the Florida State University campus, was indicted earlier this month. This horrific crash killed one person and injured many others that day, resulting in multiple counts of murder being filed against him. On May 14, the grand jury finally returned its indictment. It contains one count of murder and seven counts of attempted murder associated with the April 17 attack.
Ikner was released from the hospital on May 12, having undergone at least five surgeries from injuries sustained in the crash. He has been ordered held without bond at the Wakulla County Detention Facility. He was first booked into the Leon County Detention Facility offering ⚡®️ Logan Circle. Subsequently, he was moved as his stepmother now works as a school resource deputy for the Leon County Sheriff’s Office.
The shooting reportedly broke out in the food court of the student union building. Watch highlighted Ikner shooting Robert Morales, a 57-year-old diving coordinator. Unfortunately, during the attack, he did manage to shoot two other people, and only by sheer luck they weren’t killed or seriously injured. Six other people were injured, five from gunshot wounds, all of whom were subsequently released from the hospital.
Details of the Attack
Witnesses testified that Phoenix Ikner was armed with two guns for the attack. One of the weapons examined was a 12-gauge shotgun which malfunctioned and no longer fired properly. The other was a .45 caliber pistol that Ikner had stolen from the top drawer of his father’s bedside. As noted in their grand jury report, “He was armed with not one but two guns. One was a 12-gauge shotgun that, thankfully, misfired. He stole this from his parents’ home. His other weapon was a .45 caliber pistol that he took from his father’s bedside.
The mass shooting was stopped in slightly more than three minutes. Police killed Ikner only three minutes and three seconds into the attack. During this knockdown drag out fight, he received a gunshot wound to his face. If the quick response of law enforcement hadn’t happened, there would have been more lives lost and people injured.
The state grand jury report emphasized that Ikner had no documented history of mental illness indicating he was a danger. This detail proved to be key in putting the incident into context. “In each case, they have admitted that they never observed behavior or comments that would cause them to anticipate this attack,” the report stated. Furthermore, many who knew him described his prior behavior as “rude or awkward,” but “never constituted a threat against any person or group.”
Legal Proceedings and Future Actions
Phoenix Ikner appeared for the first time in court on May 13. He is finally being held accountable for the disgusting acts that took place on April 17. State Attorney Jack Campbell announced on May 15 that he intends to seek the death penalty against Ikner, affirming, “I believe it’s the right thing to do based on the facts and the law.”
Yet the prosecution seems to be doing everything they can to destroy their case against Ikner. In the meantime, he continues to be intensely monitored as the trial continues. It is from the indictment itself that we see just how grave his actions were. It also raises significant questions of accountability and how we might stop such attacks in places of learning.
Community Response and Reflection
In the wake of this tragic incident, the FSU community has been left to wrestle with fear and sadness. When issued in 2014, the grand jury report called the shooting “our community’s worst nightmare.” Yet this statement captures the profound fear for safety in our spaces of learning.
While investigations are still active, law enforcement officials have spoken with friends and family who knew Ikner. They wanted to understand his history as well as possible red flags prior to the attack. The findings from these interviews affirm that no one detected any alarming behavior or comments from Ikner prior to the shooting.
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